Great Escape Triathlon coming back to Hartselle

Linda Fox runs from the pool to a changing area during the Great Escape Triathlon in 2012. | Randy Garrison

Joy Harris

Hartselle Enquirer

The Decatur Triathlon Club presents the Great Escape Super Sprint Triathlon Sat.,June 1, at the Hartselle Aquatic Center.

The Great Escape Triathlon will require participants as young as 7 to swim 200 yards, bike eight miles and run two miles. The race benefits SNAP in Hartselle.

Prizes for age division winners include gift cards to Fleet Feet Sports in Huntsville, Moe’s and more. Pepsi has offered a free 1-year supply of Pepsi to the first finisher from Hartselle.

Last year, the event had 126 participants and raised around $2,000 for SNAP. This year the race hopes to raise over $3,000 and have at least 150 participants.

The event also hopes to bring revenue to Hartselle and build triathlon support in the area.

Matt Hames, a member of the Decatur Triathlon Club and the event’s coordinator, was glad to bring the Great Escape back to Hartselle for the second time.

“Hartselle’s new Aquatic Center is a desirable place to hold this event,” Hames said. “We love to use it as a venue. In our experience, Hartselle is just an amazing place to do business, hands down. We are happy to be able to benefit both Hartselle and SNAP.”

All of the triathlon events will start at the Hartselle Aquatic Center and continue onto Nance Ford Road, turning left onto Barkley Bridge Road before turning around and following the same path back to the Hartselle Aquatic Center.

Registration is $50 for individuals and $80 for relay teams. Participants can register online at www.Active.com or at Fleet Feet Sports in Huntsville.

Athletes can pick up their packet at Fleet Feet Sports from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fri.,, May 31, or between 5:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. at Sparkman Civic Center the morning of the race, which starts at 7:30 a.m. Awards will be given out at 10:30 a.m.

For more information, contact Matt Hames at hames35@gmail.com or 256-341-8646.